Family coping with stressors produced by Coronary Bypass Graft Surgery

This study examined the coping patterns of the spouses and adult children of Coronary Bypass Graft clients during the six to twelve months following the surgical event, to determine the patterns of adaptation used during this time frame. Data were collected in a phase II cardiac rehabilitation program from a sample size of 16 spouses and 28 adult children of 16 clients who had their first coronary bypass graft surgery. Using the Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scale (F-COPES) by McCubbin, Larsen, and Olson (1991) subjects were asked to identify from a list of coping patterns those patterns they used to cope with the stressors associated with the surgery.

The findings of the study revealed that the spouses and adult children used a variety of coping patterns to deal with the stressors. Both groups utilized the Internal Coping Patterns and External Coping Patterns as identified on the F-COPES scale similarly or with near or equal frequency when dealing with the stressors during the recovery process. Both groups identified the use of internal resources such as having confidence in their problem-solving abilities and the ability to positively redefine the situation. External coping behaviors utilized included relying on friends, seeking information from doctors, relying on resources offered by community agencies, and turning to their religious faith to assist them in coping with the stressors of the surgery. Implications for nursing practice included the need to assess the coping patterns utilized by spouses and children during the six to twelve months following the coronary bypass graft surgery to better understand and support family coping.